Reports

IOM, the UN Migration Agency, released a new study, which shows that 90 per cent of displaced Iraqis are determined to return home. This is similar to the long-term intentions recorded in 2016. More than 1.3 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) have returned to their places of origin so far in 2017. In...

The Obstacles to Return in Retaken Areas of Iraq delves into the principal push and pull factors limiting the willingness of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) to return to their place of origin.The qualitative and quantitative data collection was carried out in eight recently retaken sub-districts through interviews...

This research, carried out in conjunction with the International Organization for Migration’s Community Revitalization Programme and Social Inquiry, provides an evidence-based analysis of social fragility at the micro-level in areas of protracted displacement and emerging returns in Iraq. Data collected on these...

This longitudinal study by IOM Iraq and Georgetown University identifies the ways in which displaced Iraqis experience displacement, adapt to their circumstances, and create durable solutions.Through surveys of about 4,000 Iraqi families displaced since January 2014, and qualitative interviews with host communities...

Through the generous donation of the Government of Kuwait to assist the most vulnerable displaced Iraqis from Mosul, IOM has been able to provide:- 18,000 mattresses and blankets distributed to more than 6,800 families- 10,200 sets of winter and spring clothes distributed to both men and women- 8,327...

The Integrated Location Assessment (ILA) is IOM Iraq’s first nationwide attempt to simultaneously analyse both displacement and return movements of conflict-affected people. Focusing on both populations enables identification of overarching trends of population movements; evaluation of the pressure that forced...

From May 2016 to February 2017, an IOM project provided eye care health activities for vulnerable communities in northern Iraq. More than 5,500 displaced children received vision screenings, and more than 1,000 received full eye examinations and prescription glasses.The Government of Japan funded the eyeglasses...

The IOM Iraq Community Stabilization Handbook presents a careful look at 15 governorates and the specific case of 51 communities across Iraq. More than 3 million Iraqis are currently displaced by the crisis, which began in January 2014. The presence of displaced persons places additional pressure on public...

Despite the ongoing crisis that has forced millions of Iraqis flee their homes, the fact that hundreds of thousands of them are able to return to their places of origin is a sign of hope. However, while many may already back, putting an end to forced displacement, for most of them the situation upon returning remains...

Continuing IOM’s 65-year global legacy, the Iraq Mission provides displaced Iraqis, returnees and host community members with a wide range of services, including humanitarian relief items, livelihoods Support, primary health care and psychosocial assistance.
Over the past eight years, through its primary livelihood...

In 2015, over one million migrants reached European shores after long, complicated and risky journeys. Iraqis represented the third largest group of migrants, with nearly 85,000 arriving to Greece by sea in the second half of 2015 alone.
IOM Iraq, as part of the larger IOM response to this unprecedented crisis,...

Since 2007, IOM has been supporting the Government of Iraq in stabilizing vulnerable communities that have a high number of internally displaced persons, returnees and residents from the host communities, through job creation and income generation activities aimed at improving the livelihoods of the most vulnerable...

For the past three decades, Iraq has witnessed conflicts that have caused multiple waves of human displacement. Since January 2014, the violence between armed groups and government forces has resulted in the displacement of 3.3 million individuals, of whom over 552,000 are living in camps and camp-like settings...

The “Migration Flows from Iraq to Europe” report presents the findings of a survey conducted by IOM Iraq during November and December 2015, in the framework of the DFID-funded project “Understanding complex migration flows from Iraq to Europe through movement tracking and awareness campaigns”.
The survey was...

The crises in Iraq and Syria have caused unprecedented displacement and human suffering. In Iraq alone, there are over 3 million displaced Iraqis and nearly 250,000 Syrian refugees. Efforts to provide for these populations stretches the resources of local authorities and host communities.
Displaced people have a...

Located in southern Iraq, Thi-Qar has a total population of 1,616,226 individuals, excluding Syrian refugees and IDPs. The governorate mostly depends on agriculture, and used to rely on the marshlands that covered Al-Shatra and Al-Chibayish districts. However, the marshland areas were drained in the 1980s, severely...

Situated in north-eastern Iraq and bordering Iran, Sulaymaniah governorate has a total population of 1,893,617 (excluding Syrian refugees and IDPs). Together with Erbil and Dahuk, it comprises the area administrated by the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG). Since the onset of violence in December 2013,...

Babylon, the cradle of the ancient Babylonian civilization, is today a city bordering Baghdad in central Iraq; it has a population of 1,651,565 individuals, excluding IDPs.Babylon has seen several waves of displacement over the last decade. The February 2006 bombing of the Al-Askari Shia mosque in Samarra city...

Ninewa, Iraq’s second largest governorate, is situated in northern Iraq and has a total population of 3,600,000 individuals (excluding Syrian refugees and IDPs) according to the Ministry of Planning.Over the past decade, ethno-religious persecution resulted in massive migrations to, from, and within Ninewa. Sectarian...

Bordering Turkey, Dahuk is the northernmost governorate of Iraq and has a total population of 505,491 individuals (excluding Syrian refugees and IDPs). With Erbil and Sulaymaniyah, Dahuk is part of the area administered by the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG).Following the 2006 Samarra bombings, which triggered an...

Situated in the upper south-east region of Iraq and bordering Basra, Missan has a total population of 824,147 (excluding Syrian refugees and IDPs). It is one of the poorest governorates in the country. In May, IOM staff reported that the weakened economy in the governorate continued to impede construction and...

Situated on Iraq’s eastern border with Iran, Diyala governorate borders Baghdad. It has a total population of 1,560,021 (excluding Syrian refugees and IDPs) and is one of the most rural governorates in Iraq.Over the past decade Diyala has received multiple waves of displacement. The February 2006 bombing of the Al-...

Bordering Kuwait and Iran, Basra is the most southerly governorate of Iraq. It continues to be a socio-economic hub of the country with total of 1,912,533 inhabitants (excluding Syrian refugees and IDPs). The governorate is strategically and economically important, with a significant proportion of Iraqi oil reserves...

Situated in north-west Iraq with a total population of 1,542,421 (excluding Syrian refugees and IDPs), Erbil is the capital of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq administrated by the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG). As the economy and security of Erbil governorate are generally better than...

Situated in western Iraq and with a total population of 1,485,985 (excluding Syrian refugees and IDPs), Anbar is the largest governorate in the country. Over the past decade, it has experienced repeated waves of displacement, including IDPs fleeing the aftermath of the February 2006 ...

Situated in northern Iraq, with a total population of 902,019 (excluding Syrian refugees and IDPs), Kirkuk is the centre of the northern Iraqi petroleum industry and thus of great strategic and economic importance to the Baghdad Central Government.During Saddam Hussein’s ...

Baghdad governorate is the most populous in the country, home to 7,145,470 individuals (excluding IDPs and Syrian refugees). By August it held over 538,000 IDPs, the second largest concentration in Iraq. Over the past decade numerous waves of IDPs have come to this governorate, due to its...

Thi-Qar is located in southern Iraq. With a total population of 1,616,226 individuals, the governorate depends mostly on agriculture. In the past, the agrarian economy depended on the marshlands, which covered Al-Shatra and Al-Chibayish districts. The draining of the Marshland areas during the 1980s severely...

Situated on the border with Iran, Sulaymaniah is located in the northeast of Iraq and has a total population of 1,893,617. Along with Erbil and Dahuk, it composes the area administrated by the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG). Since the onset of violence in December 2013, Sulaymaniah saw the arrival of...

Situated north of Baghdad, with a total population of 1,191,403, Salah al-Din is one of the most rural governorates in Iraq.Tikrit city, the governorate’s capital was the birthplace of Saddam Hussein, the former president of Iraq. Additionally, this governorate is the site of the Baiji oil refinery, the...

Situated in northern Iraq, with a total population of 2,811,091, Ninewa is the country’s third largest governorate. Over the past decade, ethno-religious persecution resulted in massive migrations to, from, and within Ninewa. Additionally, sectarian conflicts have been exacerbated by...

Najaf, located in the southern region of Iraq is a desertous and sparsely populated governorate.With a total population of 614,997 individuals, it is a site of one of the most important Shiaa shrines in the entire country. As a result, Najaf has well developed religiousinfrastructure, including...

Missan, bordering Basrah, is located in the upper-southeast region of Iraq. With total population of 824,147 individuals, it is one of the poorest governorate in the country.In May, IOM staff reported that deteriorated economy was still impeding construction and investment projects in the...

Situated in northern Iraq, with a total population of 902,019 Kirkuk is the center of the northern Iraqi petroleum industry and thus of great strategic and economic importance to the Baghdad Central Government.Due to this importance, the Kirkuk’s administrative status is disputed by the Iraqi Central...

Kerbala is located in south central Iraq. With a total population of 1,012,356 in­dividuals, it is one of the country’s small­est governorate and a holy site for Shia Muslims, which attracts pilgrims from Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India. As a re­sult, Kerbala has well developed religious infrastructure,...

Situated in northwest Iraq with a total population of 1,542,421, Erbil hosts the capital of Kurdistan region administrated by the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG).As the economy and security of Erbil are generally better than many other areas of Iraq, this governorate continues to be a common destination for...

Bordering Baghdad, Diyala is situated on Iraq’s eastern border with Iran. With a total population of 1,560,021, it is one of the most rural governorates in Iraq.Over the past decade Diyala saw multiple waves of displacement. The February 2006 bombing of the Al-Askari Shia mosque in Samarra...

Situated on the border with Turkey, Dahuk is the northernmost governorate of Iraq with a total population of 505,491. Along with Erbil and Sulaymaniyah, it composes the area administrated by the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG).Following the 2006 Samarra bombings that triggered the outbreak of sectarian...

Bordering Kuweit and Iran, Basrah is the most southern governorate of Iraq. With total population of 1,912,533 individuals, it remains a socio-economic hub of the country. Basrah contains a significant proportion of oil reserves and is a site of the Umm Qasr port, the country’s only shipping hub. As the only...

With 7,145,470 individuals, Baghdad is the most populous governorate in the country, which also holds one of the largest share of Iraqi IDPs, totalling over 476,000 persons.Strategic location in the centre of Iraq, together with political importance of the country’s capital combined to the fact that over the...

Bordering Baghdad, Babylon is situated in central Iraq. With a total population of 1,651,565, it is located where the ancient Babylonian civilization once existed. Over the past decade, Babylon saw multiple waves of displacement. The February 2006 bombing of the Al-Askari Shia mosque in Samarra city triggered a...

Anbar is situated in western Iraq. With a total population of 1,485,985,it is the largest and the most spacious governorate in the country. Over the past decade, Anbar saw multiple waves of displacement, including the influx of IDPs fleeing in the aftermath of the February 2006 bombing of Al-Askari Shia mosque in...

From 25-28 May, IOM Iraq’s HIJRA AMINA, EU funded programme held a pilot training for the Ministry of Interior (MoI) border management training curriculum, currently being developed under the programme.The training was a prospect for IOM Iraq to present critical subjects and engage discussions with both senior and...

Under the EU funded HIJRA AMINA programme, implemented by IOM Iraq, officials from the Ministry of Interior (MoI) spent three productive days inspecting genuine and falsified passports from around the world – focusing on the security features inherent in identity documents, detection of forgery, and traveler interview...

Through a training aimed at supporting law enforcement officials in combating the crime of Trafficking in Persons (TiP), IOM Iraq rallied a diverse group of law enforcement officials whose mandate is to counter TiP in Iraq. The training held in Erbil from 18 to 21 May focused on detection, interviewing and...

IOM Iraq joined together Human Rights officials from across Iraq in Erbil for a multi-dimensional training aimed at reinforcing capacities of human rights advocates in supporting vulnerable populations in Iraq. The training from 4-7 May focused on Trafficking in Persons (TiP), community policing and psychosocial...

This report is an overview of the migration trends and living conditions of Iraqi returnees from Syria. Based on a series of household questionnaires, key informant interviews, and focus group discussions, IOM Iraq has collected information on the household level regard first, the initial displacement of Iraqis to...

Salah al-Din governorate, located in north-central Iraq and home to one of Iraq’s largest oil refineries, has been the site of ongoing armed conflict since spring. Before June, Salah al-Din was a destination for IDPs fleeing violence in Anbar governorate. When this violence spread to Salah al-Din...

From the 23rd-26th of November HIJRA AMINA brought together institutions and organisations with migration management functions with the aim of informing migration policy development. The training covered specialized research and data collection methods tailored to the current migration context of Iraq.Participants...

Ongoing Displacement profiles the displacement trends, living conditions, needs and intentions of populations that have been displaced in Iraq since 2013. Through a series of household questionnaires, focus group discussions, as well as supplementary data from IOM’s Displacement Tracking Matrix, this report presents...

In 2014, nearly 2 million Iraqis have fled horrific violence and armed conflict, and many of those who barely escaped with their lives now find themselves in need of proper shelter and basic services. Iraq has seen three major waves of displacement. The first wave, in January, occurred after armed groups seized...

In light of the deteriorating security situation in the governorate and continuous clashes between government forces and armed groups (AGs), large numbers of families have been displaced in Anbar throughout the past two months. Field reports indicate that as of the end of October, AG control large swathes of the...

Baghdad, the capital of Iraq and by far the most populous governorate, is home to a large number of internally displaced people (IDPs) and a significant returnee population. In addition to the large influx of displaced people in the years since 2003, a huge number of IDPs displaced outside of Anbar in 2014 have...

The southern governorates of Basrah, Missan, and Thi-Qar have enjoyed considerably more stability than other parts of Iraq which has made them a destination for families fleeing unstable areas and seeking safer environments despite the long journey to reach these governorates. Field reports indicate that families...

Sulaymaniyah, located in the northeast corner of Iraq bordering Iran, is part of the semiautonomous Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI). The governorate hosts a significant population of Syrian refugees, the majority of which are in the Arbat Camp (24,425 persons) in the southeastern region of the governorate.2 It also...

Kirkuk is an ethnically diverse governorate in northern Iraq containing primarily Arabs, Kurds, and Turkmen. Kirkuk hosts a large population of displaced families from Anbar and Salah al-Din, and there also has been displacement within the governorate itself. Security has been deteriorating since the start of 2014....

Diyala, located northeast of Baghdad on the Iranian border, has hosted a large IDP and returnee population since 2006. Diyala has recently experienced a severe deterioration of its security situation as well as ongoing issues related to the disputed nature of three of its districts between the Government of Iraq and...

Salah al-Din is a primarily industrial governorate located in north central Iraq, 130 km from Baghdad and located along the main road to Mosul. It has seen ongoing instability since the beginning of 2014, especially in recent months. Displacement has been ongoing since the beginning of the year,...

Ninewa, located in northern Iraq along its border with Syria, has experienced a massive increase in violence and displacement since armed groups (AGs) seized its capital city of Mosul in early June. While the security situation in Ninewa had been volatile for months preceding this seizure and subsequent conflict...

Erbil, located in northwestern Iraq, hosts the capital of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI), which is located just 90 km from Mosul. As the economy and security of Erbil are generally better than many other areas of Iraq, the governorate continues to be a common destination for displaced populations. As the cost of...

Anbar is a primarily Sunni governorate along the western Syrian border where the first clashes between government forces and armed groups occurred in the last days of 2013. These clashes have been ongoing throughout 2014, destroying much of Anbar’s infrastructure and causing large scale displacement. While most...

Dahuk is the northernmost governorate of Iraq bordering Turkey and is a part of the semiautonomous Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI). Over 90,000 Syrian refugees, many of whom live in Domiz Camp, have taken shelter in Dahuk since the beginning of the Syria Crisis in 2012.2In the first months of 2014, Dahuk saw the...

Najaf, located in the southern region of Iraq, is a desertous and sparsely populated governorate area that is predominantly Shia. The number of IDPs in Najaf has been steadily increasing in 2014, reaching a total of 11,154 families as the security situation deteriorated in other Iraqi governorates. Throughout June and...

Kerbala is a small governorate in central Iraq about 100 km away from Baghdad. The early months of 2014 saw a steady increase in the number of IDP families in Kerbala, mostly from Anbar where the security situation continues to be unstable. The security situation in Kerbala was stable with very few threats in the...

In Iraq, since 2003, protracted conflict and violence, poverty, and displacement have exposed children to a higher than usual risk of coming into contact with the law and, by the date of publication of this report, according to UNICEF unofficial estimates, 1,675 children (1,534 boys; 141 girls) were detained...

Thi-Qar, one of Iraq’s southernmost governorates, is a predominately agricultural governorate that has seen a substantial wave of returnees from Syria in recent months. As of the end of February, at least 260 families had returned to Thi-Qar due to the conflict in Syria. Returnees, whether from Syria or other...

Sulaymaniyah, located in the northeast corner of Iraq, is part of the semiautonomous Kurdish Regional Government (KRG). It currently hosts over 18,000 IDPs from Anbar as well as a significant population of Syrian refugees, 15,000 of which are in the Arbat Transit camp in the southern region of the governorate....

Missan saw little fighting during the 2003 and 2006 conflicts and the security situation is fairly stable today. Drought, attributed by many to the draining of marshlands in southern Iraq in the 1990s, caused massive rural to urban migration in Missan as many families sought employment in cities.Today, security forces...

Kirkuk is an ethnically diverse governorate in northern Iraq containing primarily Arabs, Kurds, and Turkmens. Kirkuk hosts a large population of displaced families from Anbar and Salah al-Din governorates, and there has also been displacement within the governorate itself. It is currently facing a deteriorating...

Erbil, located in northeastern Iraq, hosts the capital of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. As the economy and security of Erbil are generally better than many other areas of Iraq, Erbil holds 13,110 IDPs displaced due to the Anbar Crisis as of the end of April 2014, in addition to over 80,000 Syrian refugees. It is...

Diyala, located in central Iraq between Baghdad and Iran, hosts large IDP and returnee populations. While most IDPs in Diyala displaced from elsewhere in the governorate after the surge of sectarian violence in 2006, Diyala also holds significant numbers of families recently displaced from Baghdad, Anbar, and...

Dahuk is Iraq’s northernmost governorate and is part of the semiautonomous Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Dahuk currently hosts more than 100,000 Syrian refugees, many of whom live in Domiz Camp. In Dahuk, 489 families (2,341 individuals) displaced due to the crisis in Anbar have been identified and assessed by IOM in 22...

Basrah is Iraq’s southernmost governorate, bordering Kuwait and Iran and located on the Persian Gulf. The governorate also contains a large portion of Iraq’s oil reserves. A small number of IDP families from Anbar have arrived to Basrah since January and the governorate hosts relatively large numbers of returnee...

Baghdad, by far the most populous governorate in Iraq, is also home to both the country’s largest population of internally displaced people (IDPs) and its largest returnee population. In addition to the large influx of displaced people in the years since 2003, nearly a quarter of IDPs displaced outside of Anbar...

Anbar is Iraq’s westernmost and largest governorate geographically, but is the least densely populated. It is a mostly desert region that shares a long, porous border with Syria. Beginning in late December 2013, Anbar began seeing large waves of displacement both within the governorate and to other governorates...

Ninewa, located in northern Iraq, hosts the second largest population of IDPs post-2006 after Baghdad. The governorate also hosts 95,000 returnees who had previously been displaced elsewhere in the governorate, in other parts of the country, and abroad. Its capital, Mosul, has been particularly volatile in past months...

This report details IOM Iraq's project focused on enhancing former combatants' livelihoods through targeted vocational, agricultural, and business development training provided in tandem with in-kind-grants (IKGs) or trade-specific toolkits. Through these measures, the beneficiaries were...

While Iraq continues making notable efforts towards economic and social recovery, the country still faces important challenges generated by the massive population movements over the past decades that remain unresolved. Many of Iraq’s displaced populations and the communities that they live in, lack access to...

Throughout Iraq, vulnerable women live under particularly harsh conditions due to the effects of conflict and forced migration. High levels of illiteracy, a lack of stable income, severe psychological pressure and the absence of a family breadwinner are just some of the problems facing...

IOM Iraq has been working with unemployed and underemployed people from vulnerable communities since 2007. Although we continuously and systematically review our processes and strategies, this thematic report has allowed us to talk to both ex-beneficiaries and key members of the community to better understand...

The impact of the protracted and escalating situation in Syria is being felt throughout the region, with the growing refugee crisis as one of its most pressing consequences. Amid the rapidly deteriorating situation in Syria, the international community and national actors are struggling to respond to...

In addition to hosting very large IDP and returnee populations, Diyala is experiencing both a marked deterioration of its security situation and ongoing issues related to the disputed nature of three of its districts between the Government of Iraq and the Kurdistan Regional Government.

In addition to a large IDP and returnee population, Kirkuk is coping with a deteriorating security situation, the ongoing dispute of its governance between the Kurdistan Regional Government and the Government of Iraq, and a growing Syrian refugee population.

Dahuk, located in the north of the Kurdistan Region (KR) of Iraq, has been aﬀected by multiple migratory issues. Since the outbreak of the Syrian crisis, Dahuk has been impacted by an increasing number of refugees. Dahuk is host to some 96,000 Syrian refugees, the largest of any governorate in...

Baghdad is both the most populous and most unstable governorate in Iraq. Baghdad has both the largest internally displaced population and the largest returnee population in Iraq. Access to work, health care, electricity, water, and education were cited as top needs in communities throughout the governorate.

Anbar, with its population centers in the northeast and desert in the west, is by far the largest governorate in Iraq. Following the nationwide rise in violence in 2006, a massive number of families displaced both within Iraq and abroad. As a result, Anbar contains three broadly deﬁned ...

Missan saw little fighting during the 2003 and 2006 conflicts and the security situation is fairly stable today. Drought, attributed by many to the draining of marshlands in southern Iraq in the 1990s, caused massive rural to urban migration in Missan as many families sought employment in cities.

Ninewa hosts around 200,000 IDPs, the second largest population of any governorate. 95,000 returnees also reside in the governorate. Sharing a long border and strong social, economic and cultural ties with Syria, Ninewa hosts increasing numbers of Syrian refugees and Iraqi returnees.

Thousands of Syrians refugees have flooded to the Arabat area of Sulaymaniyah since the borders opened on 15 August 2013. This newly arrived population will undoubtedly have various socio-economic impacts on Sulaymaniyah’s existing host community and internally displaced population.

With the influx of over 30,000 Syrian refugees into Erbil since mid-August 2013 to 5 temporary camp locations, the governorate is coping with related socioeconomic impacts. Water, health care, shelter, and access to work were cited as the current top priority needs of communities in Erbil.

In February 2012, IOM conducted a rapid assessment in Erbil to better understand attitudes and perceptions of young people towards migration. The rapid survey of 180 people highlighted some very interesting trends. The survey revealed that the overwhelming majority of interviewees wished to leave Kurdistan, with a...

This is an evaluation of the efficacy, impact, and sustainability of IOM Iraq's “Contributing to on-going stabilization in Iraq through the Community Revitalization Programme (CRP), Phase I.” The project was implemented in Anbar, Baghdad, Diyala, Kirkuk, Missan, and Ninewa governorates of Iraq, with...

Iraq’s education system was long considered the most successful and egalitarian in the Arab world, with illiteracy practically eradicated by the mid-1980s and high levels of enrollment at university level. However, due to the country’s recent history of conflict, economic stagnation and the displacement of...

During the week of April 20th, several governorates in northern and central Iraq experienced heavy storms, causing severe flooding which damaged or destroyed the homes of many vulnerable families. Many of the families affected by the flooding had been living in squatter settlements in improvised shelters generally...

As the Iraqis forced from their homes following the 2006 bombing of the Al-Askari mosque in Samarra enter a period of protracted displacement, IOM assesses the changing needs and intentions of IDPs and returnees in Iraq. Five years after the 2006 bombing of the Al-Askari Mosque in Samarra, the legacy of violence and...